DR Congo tightened their grip on Group B with a composed victory over Madagascar in Dakar, riding Jordan Sakho’s interior dominance and late-game execution to secure a hard-fought 87-79 result.
Last Updated on
February 27, 2026
Some victories come from brilliance, and others are forged through control. On Wednesday night at the Stadium, Marius Ndiaye, DR Congo, produced a blend of both to overcome Madagascar 87-79 in Group B of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 African Qualifiers.
For most of the evening, the Congolese side dictated the tempo. They were sharper in their rotations, more assertive on the boards and deliberate in their execution. And at the heart of it all stood Jordan Sakho, whose imprint on the contest went far beyond the stat sheet.
The opening exchanges quickly revealed the tone. DR Congo established an inside presence early, crashing the glass and turning second-chance opportunities into points. A late push at the end of the first quarter rolled seamlessly into the second, as they pieced together a decisive burst that blew the margin wide open. What had been a competitive start suddenly stretched into a gap that Madagascar struggled to contain.
At one stage in the second quarter, the lead swelled to 23 points. DR Congo were flowing offensively, but just as importantly, they were disciplined defensively. Passing lanes were crowded, shots were contested, and the rhythm Madagascar had hoped to build never truly materialised before the break.
Yet international basketball rarely follows a straight script.
After halftime, Madagascar returned with renewed aggression. Kiady Mijoro Razanamahenina, electric and fearless, caught fire in the third quarter. In a breathtaking sequence lasting barely over two minutes, he poured in 11 points, slicing through the defence and knocking down shots with confidence. The deficit, once daunting, began to shrink possession by possession.
A 9-0 run late in the third quarter shifted the energy inside the arena. Marco Rakotovao’s three-pointer capped the surge, and suddenly the scoreboard told a different story. From a comfortable cushion, DR Congo found themselves staring at a tie game heading into the final stretch. That was the moment of truth.
Rather than panic, DR Congo recalibrated. Their fourth quarter was measured, almost clinical. The ball moved with purpose, and their defensive coverage tightened. Sakho reasserted himself in the paint, securing rebounds in traffic and initiating offence from the high post. His vision – reflected in six assists – repeatedly found teammates in better positions.
Johnathan Jordan orchestrated calmly from the backcourt, finishing with 19 points and six assists, while Patrick Kazumba Mwamba added 18 points and disruptive energy on the perimeter. His third-quarter dunk earlier injected life into his team at a crucial juncture, a reminder that DR Congo were not prepared to surrender control.
Still, it was Sakho who closed the door.
With less than a minute left and the result uncertain, he delivered a powerful dunk that clinched the game. This moment symbolisedsymbolised his control at the rim, dominance on the boards, and calmness under pressure. He finished the game with 12 points, 19 rebounds, six assists, and two blocks in just over 30 minutes, making him the most efficient player on the court.
The statistics highlight his impact, but they only tell part of the story. DR Congo led for more than 39 minutes and never fell behind. Even when Madagascar equalised, the mental advantage stayed with the Congolese team. Their performance in the last quarter, a calm 26-point run rather than a frantic rush, demonstrated their composure and experience.
Madagascar, to their credit, showed resilience. Razanamahenina’s 27-point performance kept them within reach and demonstrated their ability to challenge higher-ranked opposition. But against a team as physically assertive and structurally sound as DR Congo, the margin for error was slim.
In the end, this was not merely about an eight-point difference on the scoreboard. It was about control of tempo, space, and emotion. DR Congo remain firmly positioned in Group B; their credentials strengthened by a performance that balanced flair with discipline.
And as long as Sakho continues to command the interior with such authority, they will remain a difficult proposition for any opponent throughout this qualifying campaign.
[Photography Courtesy of FIBA]
